The Philadelphia Phillies have reached an agreement with free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz on a three-year $26 million deal. There is a fourth-year option on the deal worth $4.5 million with a $500,000 buyout and includes a limited no trade clause.
Ruiz will turn 35 in January and is coming off a down year in which he served a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test (amphetamines).
He hit .268/.320/.368 with five homers and 37 RBI. In 2012, Ruiz hit .325/.394/.540 with 32 doubles, 16 homers and 68 RBI, making his first All-Star team and garnering some MVP votes.
The signing removes one of the better free-agent catchers options off the market. Brian McCann, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and A.J. Pierzynski remain the top three catchers.
Erik Kratz and Cameron Rupp will likely compete for the backup job behind Ruiz.
